World United States California Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Traveling the Southwest

Back to the Desert Feb 17, 2007

February 17, 2007 - Just on the outskirts of San Diego is a great little stop - Summers Past Farms (Visit Summers Past Farms) It's an herb farm and they also make their own soaps. Very pleasant and worth a rest break. Took the "shortcut" towards I-10, which in California means very curvy and scenic roads. This led us to Borrego Springs, the home of the headquarters of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Camped here for one night and hiked the Palm Canyon Trail to the fan palm oasis. It's a very interesting area - native palm trees growing along a fault line.

Only drove about 2 hrs from there to check out the Salton Sea area. Ended up camping at the Salton Sea Recreation Area - primitive beach camping for 5$/night (senior rate). It's nice to have a few down days of just reading, relaxing, not spending money, not very many people around and a great view of the sunsets over the mountains and water. Apparently there was a great fish die off due to the recent cold - all the Tilapia sp. are washing up on the beaches, so sometimes we are getting a fishy smell. This was the freeze that also took out the fruit groves in California. It's amazing the cultivation /irrigation here in the desert. And the development too! Where is all the water for future use coming from?!